Method of forming metal fortified packer gaskets



May 21,-1935. J. R. McwANE 202,122

METHOD oF FORMING METAL FQRTIFIED PACKER GAsKETs Filed May 25, 1933 4 Shee'Ls-Sheet l May 2l, 1935. J, R MCWANE 2,002,122

METHOD 0F FORMING METAL FORTIFIED PACKR GASKETS Filed May 25, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 gn/manip@ Rumst May 21, 1935. J. R. MCWAN'E 2,002,122

METHOD OF FORMING METAL FORTIFIED PACKER GASKETS Filed May 25, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIHI a A j? /ff m ma 3% #mit May 2l, 1935. J, R, McwANE 2,002,122

METHOD OF FORMING METALVFORTI'FIED PACKER GASKETS F'iledA May 25, 1953 4 Sheets-Shee-t 4 Ill Patented Ma'y'zl, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I METHOD F FORMmG METL FORTIFIED PACKER GASKETS Co., Birmingham, Ala.

Application May z5, 1933, serial No. 612,886

2 claims. (c1. zz-zog) The invention relates to packer gaskets of the type employed in bell and spigot or similar forms of pipe .joints for sealing the joints against l wise deformed and unfit for continued efficient r protecting said body leakage.

In pipe joints of the bell and spigot and like types, gaskets commonly are employed to seal the joints against leakage. These gaskets are formed of compressible material, usually rubber, and it has been found that when allowed to contact with certain materials which the pipe lines convey the rubber formingor employed in the gaskets deteriorates and swells or becomes otheruse.

In its more detailed nature therefore, my inj vention seeks to provide a novel form of gasket including a body of rubber or similar compressible material suitably fortified at its respective ends with metallic portions capable of supporting thecompressible body and cooperating -therewith in effecting an efficient'joint seal and of against destructive deterioration. j

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved method of forming the gasket. l With these' and other objects in view which will more fully appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by following the description; the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:- Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the compressible body /portion of my improved gasket. f

Figure 2 is a side elevation illustrating my improved gasket, in its complete form.

Figure 3 is. a plan view of the gasket shownA in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical'cross section taken n the line 4--4 on Figure 3.'

Figure 5 is a sectional perspective view illusplete gasket embodying the metal portion shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 isa sectional perspective view illus-,

trating the metal portion of another modified form of gasket.

Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views illusf tratng the rings of compressible material which cooperate with the metal portion of Figure 8 to form the complete modified form of gasket.

Figure 11 is a vertical cross section formed compositely of the parts shown in Figures 8, 9 andl 10.

Figure 12 is a detail central vertical section illustrating application of the compressible body ring tozthelmold parts.

Figure 13 is a central vertical section illustrating the molding 'of (the metal portion of the gasket shown in Figures 1 to 5.

Figure 14 is a detail horizontal section taken on the line Ill- I4 on Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a. fragmentary side elevation of the mold cavity closing gland ring shown in Figure 13.

Figure 16 is a detail longitudinal section of a bell and spigot type pipe joint in which a gasket embodying the invention is applied.

In Figures l to 5 of the drawings, I have illustrated one form of my improved gasket in which is embodied an annulus formed of a suitable compressible material, such as rubber, and generally designated 5. This ring or annulus may be formed in any approved manner but in this particular form of the invention it comprises a solid ring comprising an inner cylindrical surface 6 which merges with or terminates in a flared frusto-coniform surface 1, and an outer cylindrical surface 8 which merges with or terminates in atapered or frusto-coniform surface 9. The frusto-coniform surfaces 'l and 9 arefreversely directed and together form a resultant wedgeshaped nose or toeportion as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings.

At its end opposite the wedge-shaped nose or toe portion, the ann'ulus 5 terminates in a transverse `wal1'or heel surface I0 lying in-a plane normal4 to the axis of said annulus. The heel surface IU and the nose surface 'l both constitute substantially transverse surfaces but 'it is preferable that the surface l0 should liein a plane normal to the annulus axiswvhile the surface] bears angular relationft' the axis for a. purpose which will become apparent as the description progresses. At equidistantly spaced intervals the annulus 5 is provided with a 'plurality of chambers 'or bores Il which communicate through both of the annulus end surfaces I0 and 1 and, where they pass through the surface l0 the bores, preferably are'fprovided with funnel-like flow directing recesses I2. 'I'he purpose of the recesses I2 likewise Will become apparent as the description progresses. The resilient or compressible annulus constructed as above described, in the completed form of; the gasket, has its respective ends protected by soft metal rings.

nulyus surface 1 is opposed by a nose or-toe ring I6; said rings preferably being cast integrally withand connected by equidistantly spaced lugs I5 which are positioned in the bores II referred to hereinbefore. g

It will be obvious by reference to Figures 1,1 2 and 3, of the drawings that the outer faces4 of the annulus 5 and the ring I4 .are so shaped that they conjointly form a tapered or frusto-coniform surface of the completed gasket.

In Figures 6 and '7 of the drawings/I havel disclosed a modified form of gasket in which the heel or cap ring I6 and the nose or toe ring I1, both shaped substantially as in the form previously described, are joined with a thin annular wall I8. The wall 8 serves to provide 1ring seats or recesses I9 (see Figure 6) at the inner andl outer or opposite sides'thereof into which inner and outer rings 20, 2| of yieldable pr re silient material suchas rubber may beapplied as illustrated in 'Figure 'l of the drawings.

In Figures 8 to l1 of the drawings, I have disclosed another form of the gasket in which the sides of the wall of lugs are lfitted inner and outer rings of rubber or other suitable yieldable gasket material as in the form of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7. In this form of the invention, however, the inner ring 25 preferably is formed with a peripheral surface notched as ring 21 as iuustrated in Figre 1i of the v at 2B (see Figure 10) so as to provide projections which will Aextend between the connecting lugs 24 and engage the opposed surface of the outer drawings.

to 5 of the drawings.

Except for the internal construction provided by the annular continuous wall |8F'and the an-V,

nular wall formed of spaced lugs 24, andthe provision of individualinlay rings of rubber, the gaskets disclosed respectively in Figures 6 and 7 and in Figures 8 to ll'are shaped and function the same as the gaskets disclosed in Figures 1 to 5.

` Myinvention also comprehends a novel method of forming' the gasket shown in Figures 1 In practice, in my improved methodemploy a mold base 28 to which a bail-like handle equipment 29 is secured in order to facilitate handling thereof. The base includes a frusto-coniform seat or recess 30 to receive the tapered end of a hollow cylindrical mold wall forming member 3|, and a surrounding cavity 32 which cooperates with the member 3| informing an annular chamber or cavity having the same cross-sectional shape as the completed gasket. See Figures 12 and 13.

The member 3| is equipped with an annular air escape channel 33 which may communicate with atmosphere through radial openings 34 formed in the walls of -the member 3|, through the hollow interior of said member, and through openings 35 formed in the end wall of said member as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. The mold The annulus surface isv abutted by a heel or cap ring I3 and the an# a closure for the casting cavity 32.

member 3| may also be provided with a handle 36 tofaclitate manipulation thereof.

In the formation of my improved gasket, the body ring or annulus 5, of rubber or other compressible material illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, jis applied to the mold member 3| as illustrated in Figure 12 of the drawings, and for this purpose the member 3| 'may be reduced in diameter at its receiving end as illustrated at 31. A follower ring 38 may be utilized to force the annulus downinto the cavity 32 to the position illustrated in Figure 13.

It will be observed that the upstanding annular flange 39 which 'defines the outer limits of the cavity 32 isdeep enough so that clearance spaces or chambers are provided beneath `and above the annulus/5 as shown in Figure 13. The clearances below and above the annulus 5 are of the same cross-sectional area or shape as the heel and toe or nose rings.v The clearance or space designed to provide..the heel ring is generally designated 4I) and the clearance or space designed to form the toe .or nose ring is generally designated 4|.

After the rin'g or annulus 5 has been applied,

the followerring 38 is removed and a gland ring substituted therefor. The closure ring 42 is shown in lFigures 13 and 15 of the drawings and is so proportioned that its lower end will form The outer edge of the closure forming end of the gland ring is provided with a plurality of ow notches A 43, the purpose of which will become apparent as the description progresses. At this point the molding or casting parts are immersed in a'bath 44 of molten metal (lead) contained in a suitable container 45.

notches 43 will quickly fill the clearance or chamber 40 and pass downwardly through the funnel-like recesses I2 and bores II into the lowerclearance or chamber 4|. After the metal -is permitted to cool and harden the completed gasket shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing may be removed from the casting mold.

4It* will be obvious that as the`mold is lifted out of the molten bath 44, excess of the molten metal will overflow the upper edge of the conning wall 38 and thus determine the upper limit and therefore the length of the gasket withou't necessitating the resorting to any excess metal trimming action. f

, The molten metal flowing into the casting cavity 32 through the clearance ring Whileit is preferred that in the/gaskets shown l a pipe joint in which one of my improved gaskets is applied. In this disclosure, the conventional pipe 46 and its bell 41 receive the usual spigot 43, said bell being constructed to provide the usual gasket seat 49 and flared receiving chamber 50. When the gasket is inserted into the receiving chamber, a follower ring 5| is applied thereagainst so that when lthe threaded nipple 52 is screwed home, the gasket will be forced into tight sealing contact with the bell and spigot surfaces. Preferably the metal connecting vmeans which connect the heel and toe or nose ring portions of the gasket are deformable s o that when the follower ring '5| is forced tightly against the heel ring, sala connectors may be slightly deformed to compress and expand the -rubber body portions of the gasket. The abutting frusto-coniform surfaces of the rubberlbody and the toe or nose ring likewise facilitate in directing the rubber body portions into sealing contact with the joint walls.

, It is of course to be understood that the details of structure and arrangement of parts may be variously changed and modied without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

l. The method of forming a pipe joint gasket having soft metal ends and an intermediate body, of compressible sealing material which consists in forming an annulus of the compressible material with chambering in the annulus body thereof opening communication therethrough from end to end, confining the annulus with its-axis disf posed vertically in an annular cavity affording clearance above and below the annulus to the extent of the desired proportions of soft metal ends and dened by bottom and lateral conilning walls one of which lateral walls terminates at a height for determining the extent of the above clearance, administering molten4 metal to the above clearance and through the chambering of the annulus into the lower clearance to be allowed to thereafter harden and be removed irom` having soft metal ends and an intermediate body i of compressible sealing materialv which consists in forming an annulus of the compressible material with chambering in the annulus body thereof opening communication therethrough from end to end, conilning the annulus with its axis disposed vertically in an annular cavity affording clearance above and below the annulus to the extent of the desired proportions of soft metal ends and dened by bottom and lateralv confining walls one of which lateral walls terminates at a height for determining the extent of the above clearance, administering molten metal into said clearances and chambering to be allowed to thereafter harden and be removed from the confinement in the annular cavity as an integral gasket structure, and permitting said molten metal to overow said upper clearance extent determining wall for ilxing the length of the gasket without resort to trimming of excess metal.

'JAMES R. MCWANE. 

